Divisional round, Playoff Challenge fantasy rankings

Did your fantasy football season end at the hands of Aaron Rodgers, David Johnson or Jordy Nelson? Did you start Julio Jones over Adam Thielen in Week 16? (Alright you made the right move, but still ... 32.6 fantasy points)! I feel for you, but the pain of defeat can be eased (at least somewhat) with a new challenge. The NFL Playoff Challenge! You can set up your own league with friends and family, or you can join my league and compete against me. You can even win a trip to Super Bowl LII scheduled to take place in February 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota!

So what is the NFL Playoff Challenge?

Well, Alex Gelhar gives a great description here so check that out. Unlike daily fantasy leagues, a player's value also includes how far you project his team to advance in the postseason. We all know Julio Jones is a much better fantasy wideout than Julian Edelman, right? Well that's not the case in the NFL Playoff Challenge, at least not if you believe that the Patriots will advance a round or two further in the postseason than Atlanta. That's where you'll see a difference in the player rankings below. One set is for the Divisional Round alone (DFS), and one is for the entire duration of the postseason (NFL PC).

I'll be updating these rankings all throughout the postseason, so check back after each round. Enjoy!

Quarterbacks -- Divisional Round (DFS)

1. Aaron Rodgers, Packers
   2. Tom Brady, Patriots
   3. Dak Prescott, Cowboys
   4. Matt Ryan, Falcons
   5. Russell Wilson, Seahawks
   6. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers
   7. Alex Smith, Chiefs
   8. Brock Osweiler, Texans

Quarterbacks -- NFL Playoff Challenge

1. Tom Brady, Patriots
   2. Aaron Rodgers, Packers
   3. Dak Prescott, Cowboys
   4. Russell Wilson, Seahawks
   5. Matt Ryan, Falcons
   6. Alex Smith, Chiefs
   7. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers
   8. Brock Osweiler, Texans

Running backs -- Divisional Round (DFS)

1. Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys
   2. Le'Veon Bell, Steelers
   3. LeGarrette Blount, Patriots
   4. Devonta Freeman, Falcons
   5. Thomas Rawls, Seahawks
   6. Lamar Miller, Texans
   7. Spencer Ware, Chiefs
   8. Tevin Coleman, Falcons
   9. Ty Montgomery, Packers
   10. Dion Lewis, Patriots
   11. James White, Patriots
   12. Christine Michael, Packers
   13. Charcandrick West, Chiefs
   14. Alex Collins, Seahawks
   15. Darren McFadden, Cowboys
   16. DeAngelo Williams, Steelers
   17. Aaron Ripkowski, Packers
   18. Alfred Blue, Texans
   19. Marcel Reece, Seahawks
   20. Lance Dunbar, Cowboys

Running backs -- NFL Playoff Challenge

1. Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys
   2. LeGarrette Blount, Patriots
   3. Le'Veon Bell, Steelers
   4. Devonta Freeman, Falcons
   5. Thomas Rawls, Seahawks
   6. Spencer Ware, Chiefs
   7. Dion Lewis, Patriots
   8. Tevin Coleman, Falcons
   9. Ty Montgomery, Packers
   10. Lamar Miller, Texans
   11. James White, Patriots
   12. Christine Michael, Packers
   13. Charcandrick West, Chiefs
   14. Alex Collins, Seahawks
   15. Darren McFadden, Cowboys
   16. DeAngelo Williams, Steelers
   17. Marcel Reece, Seahawks
   18. Aaron Ripkowski, Packers
   19. Lance Dunbar, Cowboys
   20. Alfred Blue, Texans

Wide receivers -- Divisional Round (DFS)

1. Antonio Brown, Steelers
   2. Dez Bryant, Cowboys
   3. Julio Jones, Falcons
   4. Davante Adams, Packers
   5. Doug Baldwin, Texans
   6. Randall Cobb, Packers
   7. Julian Edelman, Patriots
   8. Tyreek Hill, Chiefs
   9. DeAndre Hopkins, Texans
   10. Taylor Gabriel, Falcons
   11. Jeremy Maclin, Chiefs
   12. Cole Beasley, Cowboys
   13. Paul Richardson, Seahawks
   14. Terrance Williams, Cowboys
   15. Eli Rogers, Steelers
   16. Malcolm Mitchell, Patriots
   17. Jermaine Kearse, Seahawks
   18. Chris Hogan, Patriots
   19. Mohamed Sanu, Falcons
   20. Will Fuller, Texans

Wide receivers -- NFL Playoff Challenge

1. Antonio Brown, Steelers
   2. Julian Edelman, Patriots
   3. Dez Bryant, Cowboys
   4. Julio Jones, Falcons
   5. Davante Adams, Packers
   6. Doug Baldwin, Seahawks
   7. Randall Cobb, Packers
   8. Tyreek Hill, Chiefs
   9. Taylor Gabriel, Falcons
   10. DeAndre Hopkins, Texans
   11. Cole Beasley, Cowboys
   12. Jeremy Maclin, Chiefs
   13. Malcolm Mitchell, Patriots
   14. Paul Richardson, Seahawks
   15. Terrance Williams, Cowboys
   16. Chris Hogan, Patriots
   17. Eli Rogers, Steelers
   18. Jermaine Kearse, Seahawks
   19. Mohamed Sanu, Falcons
   20. Will Fuller, Texans

Tight ends -- Divisional Round (DFS)

1. Travis Kelce, Chiefs
   2. Jimmy Graham, Seahawks
   3. Martellus Bennett, Patriots
   4. Jared Cook, Packers
   5. Jason Witten, Cowboys
   6. C.J. Fiedorowicz, Texans
   7. Jesse James, Steelers
   8. Austin Hooper, Falcons

Tight ends -- NFL Playoff Challenge

1. Martellus Bennett, Patriots
   2. Jimmy Graham, Seahawks
   3. Travis Kelce, Chiefs
   4. Jason Witten, Cowboys
   5. Jared Cook, Packers
   6. Jesse James, Steelers
   7. Austin Hooper, Falcons
   8. C.J. Fiedorowicz, Texans

Kickers -- Divisional Round (DFS)

1. Matt Bryant, Falcons
   2. Dan Bailey, Cowboys
   3. Stephen Gostkowski, Patriots
   4. Steven Hauschka, Seahawks
   5. Cairo Santos, Chiefs
   6. Mason Crosby, Packers
   7. Chris Boswell, Steelers
   8. Nick Novak, Texans

Kickers -- NFL Playoff Challenge

1. Stephen Gostkowski, Patriots
   2. Matt Bryant, Falcons
   3. Dan Bailey, Cowboys
   4. Steven Hauschka, Seahawks
   5. Cairo Santos, Chiefs
   6. Mason Crosby, Packers
   7. Chris Boswell, Steelers
   8. Nick Novak, Texans

Defense/special teams -- Divisional Round (DFS)

1. New England Patriots
   2. Kansas City Chiefs
   3. Seattle Seahawks
   4. Atlanta Falcons
   5. Pittsburgh Steelers
   6. Green Bay Packers
   7. Dallas Cowboys
   8. Houston Texans

Defense/special teams -- NFL Playoff Challenge

1. New England Patriots
   2. Seattle Seahawks
   3. Kansas City Chiefs
   4. Dallas Cowboys
   5. Atlanta Falcons
   6. Green Bay Packers
   7. Pittsburgh Steelers
   8. Houston Texans

Michael Fabiano is an award-winning fantasy football analyst on NFL.com and NFL Network and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association (FSWA) Hall of Fame. Have a burning question on anything fantasy related? Tweet it to _**@MichaelFabiano**_ or send a question via **Facebook**!